European Gymnastics is looking to postpone its 2021 Congress ©European Gymnastics

Farid Gayibov could be granted an extension to his term as European Gymnastics President after the governing body said it was looking to postpone its Congress next year.

The 2021 European Gymnastics Congress, including the Presidential election, is scheduled to be held in Albufeira from December 4 to 6.

But the Executive Committee decided to consider moving the meeting after the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) pushed back its Congress to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

European Gymnastics said its Member Federations would vote on the proposal during a virtual General Assembly set to be held "in the coming months".

Postponing the Congress would effectively grant Azerbaijan's Gayibov, elected European Gymnastics President in 2017, an extension to his four-year term at the helm of the body.

Postponing the Congress would grant Farid Gayibov an extension to his term as European Gymnastics President ©European Gymnastics
Postponing the Congress would grant Farid Gayibov an extension to his term as European Gymnastics President ©European Gymnastics

Gayibov, the former vice-president of the UEG and secretary general of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, could become the latest official to hold his position beyond the end of his mandate.

FIG President Morinari Watanabe's term as President was extended by a year after the worldwide body rescheduled its Congress for October 29 to 31 in 2021.

The European Gymnastics Executive Committee also launched the bid process for several of its major events, including the 2024 European Championships in the men's and women's artistic disciplines.

The organisation has also called for hosts for the 2022 European Championships in trampoline, the 2023 European Championships in acrobatic and aerobic gymnastics and its 2023 Congress.